Cheltenham Festival Novice Hurdles favourites discussed

Novice hurdle races at the Cheltenham Festival are some of the most eagerly anticipated races of the week, and provide a chance to see the stars of the near future, who could be back to contest Championship races the following year.

In this blog we discuss the favourites and likely contenders for the four major novice hurdles at the Festival.

Check out all William Hill’s latest horse racing betting promotions

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Tuesday 1:30pm

The traditional curtain raiser to the Cheltenham Festival, run over 2m½f on the Old Course, is always greeted by one of the loudest cheers from the crowd.

This year’s renewal sees a typically high-class field, with current 2/1 favourite Facile Vega the horse that many people have been talking about throughout the season. Facile Vega hails from the all-conquering Closutton yard of trainer Willie Mullins, who has won five of the last 10 editions of this race. Mullins’ six-year-old was a winner at the Festival last year, when sluicing through the mud to win impressively in the Champion Bumper, and has only been defeated once in six starts.

He won the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, when making all the running to defeat stablemate Il Etait Temps, but failed to repeat that in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle in February when taken on for the lead in the early stages, with Il Etait Temps sweeping through to win. That clearly wasn’t his true running, but it does pose questions about whether he will be able to bounce back.

Il Etait Temps also has past Cheltenham Festival form to his name after finishing fifth in last year’s Triumph Hurdle. He’s had a bit more experience over hurdles than his better regarded rival, and the key to him looks to be getting a strong early pace so he can settle in his races. That should be the case in the Supreme and he has to be considered a big threat at 6/1.

The other main contender is Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale at 4/1, who was last seen winning the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. That form will need improving on, but the way he quickened smartly after the last suggests there could be more to come.

Bet on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with William Hill

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Wednesday 1:30pm

Opening the card for the second day of the Festival is the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, run over a trip of 2m5f on the Old Course.

Horses that lack the speed to go for the Supreme often go for the Ballymore, but that doesn’t mean to say it is secondary to the earlier race.

While it is still uncertain which novice race at Cheltenham Impaire Et Passe will go for, judging by trainer Willie Mullins’ comments, the Ballymore looks the most likely target. This five-year-old son of Diamond Boy is unbeaten in three career starts, joining the Mullins team after winning a National Hunt Flat race in France. He won by 18 lengths on hurdles debut over 2m3f at Naas, before stepping up to win the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last time. An unbeaten horse from the Mullins camp, he’s worthy of utmost respect as the 9/4 favourite.

British hopes look to rest with Paul Nicholls’ Hermes Allen, a son of Poliglote that was bought from the Point-to-Point sphere. He’s beaten everything he’s faced with ease in three starts over hurdles, including when taking the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury when last seen. He’s also proven over this course and distance, having won at Cheltenham in November, and certainly won’t be outdone for stamina. He has a strong chance of giving Paul Nicholls a first win in the race at 11/4, but this is by far his hardest task now taking on the Irish novices.

Another from the Mullins’ camp that could end up in here is Gaelic Warrior. He was just touched off in the Fred Winter at the Festival last season and has won his three hurdles starts this campaign. The step up in trip could suit too, so watch out for him at 4/1.

Bet on the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle with William Hill

Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Thursday 4:50pm

A relatively recent addition to the Festival, this will be the eighth renewal of the Mares’ Novice Hurdle, which this year will be run in memory of Jack de Bromhead.

Luccia has looked a high-class prospect ever since making her debut in a bumper at Warwick in January last year, and to date Nicky Henderson’s mare has won all four of her career starts. Most recently she stepped out of mares’ company and won a Listed novice hurdle at Exeter with consummate ease, suggesting she merits being a strong 6/4 favourite here.

Willie Mullins won the first five editions of this race and can always be counted on to have a strong contender. He is set to field Ashroe Diamond who has plenty of experience, after placing in two Grade 1 novice hurdles in open company, before winning a Grade 3 when back against her own sex at Fairyhouse. At 3/1 she is capable of giving Luccia something to think about, while her stablemate Lot Of Joy is also respected at 7/1.

Bet on the Mares’ Novice Hurdle with William Hill

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Friday 2:50pm

A race that is all about stamina and is an extreme test for novices over 3 miles of the more testing New Course.

Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross is currently the 3/1 favourite after a game performance to beat Found A Fifty in the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas last time. Considering this is a horse blessed with plenty of stamina – he has won over 3 miles on soft ground – to win over 2 miles highlighted both his versatility and ability. He will be sure to relish the return to further and looks a strong favourite, particularly if the ground is on the softer side of good on Friday.

Hermes Allen looks more likely to go for the Ballymore, so the next to consider is Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag who was a good winner when last seen over 2m3½f at Fairyhouse in January. He beat rival Spanish Harlem by 14 lengths that day, and that horse currently heads the market for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the Festival. The step up to 3 miles should suit this son of Jet Away and he’s a player at 6/1.

Both Embassy Gardens and Hiddenvalley Lake are proven at this trip and shouldn’t be discounted at around 7/1.

Bet on the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with William Hill